My Teleprompter Set Up

I bought this teleprompter from amazon, to speed up client interviews and editing.

The hood helps to block out light from behind, making the teleprompter text clearer.

I adapted an Apple TV to run from the camera battery - so it could mirror the iPad’s display - and is fed into a monitor at the back of the camera, allowing me to see exactly what the client is reading and adjust the speed, via an iPhone app from iAutocue, as needed.

The camera is a Canon C500 mk1, which has terrible internal resolution and codecs but outputs ProRes 4K, 10 bit, to an external recorder - in this case an Atomos Shogun Inferno - a terrific recorder and monitor with everything you need to achieve good focus and exposure.

You won’t need to adjust you zoom and focus too much during an interview but the Nucleus N motors from Tilta are excellent tools for setting up your shots.

Ask a client to prepare a script in advance and it will save you hours in filming and especially editing. Let me know what you think …

I adapted it with Smallrig lens supports, which I turned upside-down so I could fit it all on to the camera rods.

I use iAutocue to manage the script - there are many teleprompter apps available. Flip the image to make it readable and it is ready to go!

The audio is from a lapel mic taped to the client’s chest, with a small shotgun mic placed out of shot as a back up. You are hearing just the radio mic. I use devices from Tentecle to stamp timecode onto the footage and audio so it is a simple job to sync in post - drop all files into the Tentecle app and export an XML, which loads directly into the editing software.

Everything is powered from a V-Mount set up on the back of the rig.

Watch the full video below …

Product Photography for Ti-GO Bikes #RideAwesome

The Ti-GO AIR - all the bits!

The bikes, apparel and accessories were delivered to my studio and I got to work. A socially distanced product shoot is an interesting experience, keeping a constant channel of communication open was essential - the devil is in the details!

Chris and Sarah from CYCLEme TOTS got in touch - they were launching a new range of bikes and biking apparel for younger riders. My little boy, Teddy, goes to the CYCLEme TOTS riding classes, which he loves, and Sarah had seen the videos and photos I had been sharing on the Facebook page and asked if I would like to produce photos and video for their upcoming launch of Ti-GO BIKES? Yes please!

Ti-GO AIR assembled - blue style

Tech. Tops on a Ghost Mannequin

Ti-GO gloves in three colour ranges

Colour options for the product range were matched in Photoshop using the original design specifications, this maintains a consistency to the look of the apparel - one shot with three colour ranges.

The Ti-GO ONE

The same colour process was used for the bike and accessory shots. All files were PNGs with the background removed, which means the client can upload to their website and choose various colours for their background.

PNG files (with a transparency) usually default to a white background

Client can choose a different colour for the background

Using a Ghost Mannequin enables the inside of a garment to be seen - very useful! Sections of the neck line and shoulders can be removed after the mannequin has been dressed. I got mine from emeDigital - very helpful people - you can find them HERE

Some of the logos placed using Photoshop, then added to garment during manufacture - communication with the client is key!

The gloves and pads were tested to the full as an epic fall followed the huge jump seen above! The bikes and apparel are great, perfectly suited to little riders.

Ti-GO BIKES primary goal as a business is to get kids riding earlier, safer, and with added fun and excitement! Every product in their range has been rigorously tested with the youngest riders to ensure that it has the Ti-GO seal of approval to make each child #rideawesome. To this end I just had to take Teddy out and about …

You can find Ti-GO BIKES HERE

You can find my other product photography HERE